Industry News

Expanded, state-of-the-art, premises for the World Maritime University (WMU) were inaugurated on Monday (19 May 2015) in Malmö, Sweden, by IMO Secretary-General and WMU Chancellor Koji Sekimizu. WMU is an international educational institute for the maritime community, operating under the auspices of IMO. At close to 6,000m2, the new facility is nearly double the size…

Thomas “Michael” McMahon, General Manager at The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute of Technology, passed suddenly on May 11, 2015 at aged 61. He died at St Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, MD of an abdominal aorta aneurysm. Born May 1, 1954 in Wellesley, MA he was the son of Thomas M. McMahon and Claire McMahon. He is survived by his wife Anita McMahon, stepdaughter Marquise, stepsons Justin Sr. and Ira, four sisters, Gale, Peg, Ann, and Fran, 4 grandchildren, seven nephews and one niece.

Mike was a graduate of Wellesley High School, UMass Amherst and Cornell University. Michael as he was known in the industry, held a degree and certifications in the Hospitality Industry.

Michael’s long and diverse career provided him opportunities to work for some of the largest and most respected brands in hospitality including Hilton, Starwood, and Marriott as well as ownership groups including Dolce Hotels and Resorts and Thayer Lodging. Among Michael’s many accomplishments; leading conference center operations for American Airlines, rebuilding the ageing Bethesda Crown Plaza into the thriving Doubletree Bethesda, creating the Doubletree Executive Meeting Center in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Michael’s final position was Consultant General Manager at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute (CCMIT) in Linthicum Heights, MD. His professionalism and enthusiasm will be greatly missed.

You may create a lasting memory by donating to the following organizations. Donate in memory of Thomas Michael McMahon. Use PO box 763531 Dallas, Texas 75376 for acknowledgement address and his family will share in the memory of your gift.

A ruptured pipeline west of Santa Barbara, California has left local beaches covered in oil.

Around noon on Tuesday visitors complained of a noxious smell in the area around Refugio Beach, about 20 miles outside of Santa Barbara. By about 3:30pm the oil slick was confirmed and had extended around four miles from where the spill was first discovered. Thick patches of oil have been reported washing ashore in and around Refugio Beach.

An estimated 21,000 gallons of oil leaked from the broken pipeline owned by Plains All American Pipeline, before it was shut off. The company issued a statement yesterday saying, “Plains shut down the flow of oil in the pipeline and has initiated its emergency response plan [and] is working with local officials and first responders on site to begin clean up and remediation efforts.” The company has also stated that it is taking every precaution to limit the spill’s environmental impact.

Currently, the U.S. Coast Guard is overseeing the oil cleanup operation and wildlife experts are addressing the spill’s effect on local animal populations. Additionally, the county Office of Emergency Services, Exxon and firefighters are all working to contain and mitigate the spill’s damage.

Speaking to a Los Angeles news source, Capt. Jennifer Williams of the USCG stated that the spill will have to be monitored continuously to limit its environmental impact. Additionally, she added that the spill was of a medium degree of severity and that local wildlife should be able to recover from the damage.

As of Tuesday night, Refugio State Beach was shut down and warnings were issued for El Capitan State Beach as the oil spill was reportedly moving south with the currents. It is unclear if beach closures will extend through the Memorial Day holiday.

Sovcomflot, the Russian crude, product, and LNG tanker owner, says it expects a strong 2015 result after a 67% increase in year-on-year net profit in 1Q15.
Group net profit reached USD97 million in 1Q15 compared with USD58.1 million in the same period last year. Revenues rose to USD359 million from

Eurotunnel cannot yet guarantee that its ferry affiliate, MyFerryLink, will continue operating in the Dover Strait beyond early July, it said today.
This comes despite last week’s appeal court ruling overturning a UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ban on the ferry company using the port of

BW LPG, the world’s largest LPG carrier owner, has taken an upbeat view of the future after delivering strong 1Q15 figures.
The company’s first-quarter net profit rose to USD57.5 million this year from USD30.8 million in 2014 on a bigger fleet and firmer rates. Revenues increased to USD167.9

As the third anniversary of the entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) approaches, Seafarers’ Rights International (SRI) is embarking on a comprehensive study on the effectiveness of the Convention. The study has been commissioned by the International Transport Workers’ Federation. It will be an in-depth and... Read more →